The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) International Biology Symposium is held every four years and will be in Belgium from 10-14 July 2017 (http://kuleuvencongres.be/scarbiology2017/articles). The XIIth SCAR International Biology Symposium will bring together scientists from around the world with interests in Antarctic biology. The Symposium is an excellent opportunity to present, view and discuss the most recent and important results of research on Antarctic biology and related disciplines.

This year’s theme is Scale Matters, and researchers involved in all aspects of Antarctic biology are invited to submit contributions. Topical sessions will include biological linkages from molecular to global scales, and include sessions on societal relevance of polar research. Organisms from all environments will be discussed from microbes to vertebrates. Basic research, as well as applied scientific investigations, will be presented.

Travel Grant Opportunity: Applications for partial travel support (airfare and meeting registration) are sought from students, post-doctoral researchers and other scientists at US institutions (funding cannot be provided to anyone at a non-US institution). Preference will be given to early career investigators (students and those within 5 years of completing PhD). Individuals from underrepresented groups in the sciences (i.e., women, persons with disabilities, blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians) are encouraged to apply. Funding will be provided by the National Science Foundation Division of Polar Programs (pending final approval).

Eligibility: 1) You must be employed by/enrolled in a U.S. institution. 2) You must present a talk or poster at the 2017 SCAR Biology Symposium. 3) Applicants may not have access to current NSF grants with travel funds for meetings.

Application: Complete this application form, incomplete applications will not be considered. Reimbursement of funds will require submission of receipts for air travel purchased through a US-flag carrier (no exceptions) and meeting registration. Travel advances are not possible, and credit card statements are not valid as receipts.

READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION - IMPORTANT RULES REGARDING USE OF NSF FUNDS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Funds from NSF for travel to this meeting are limited, travel awards will cover airfare and meeting registration only. Please note the following important policies regarding use of NSF funds for international travel.

Rules for NSF Travel Grant funds:

1. "NSF international travel grants may not be supplemented by funds from any other NSF grant or fellowship." This means the rest of your expenses cannot be charged to any other NSF award (i.e., to you, to your advisor, etc.), instead funds must come from another agency, from your university, etc.

2. Use of US-Flag Air Carriers: “... any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other than the U.S. of persons or property, the expense of which will be assisted by NSF funding, must be performed by or under a code-sharing arrangement with a U.S.-flag air carrier if service provided by such a carrier is available…”. This means that all airlines used MUST be US-flag carriers if the flight takes off or lands on US soil (example: a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to London International Airport must be a US-flag carrier because the flight starts on US soil). The only exception is if a US airline does not fly from the originating destination or there is a layover greater than 6 hours.

A US carrier ‘code share’ flight, operated by non-US airline is OK, but the ticket must be purchased from the US carrier. This means that your ticket receipt must show the US carrier name and flight number, it cannot be listed as a non-US carrier flight. (Yes, even if the ticket costs more – these are the rules.)

Registration category (funds provided only for early bird registration rate, you will be reimbursed for your actual cost): *

Student ~$218 (€200)

Regular ~$380 (€300)

No registration support needed $0

Enter cost of airfare below. Must be a US-flag carrier (see NSF policies above). Once you have submitted this application, e-mail a pdf file (yourlastname.pdf) of the airfare quote to Deneb Karentz <karentzd@usfca.edu>. Quote can be from an airline or travel company website. *

Enter the title of the talk or poster to be submitted to the SCAR International Biology Symposium. *

Your answer

List, separated by commas, the names of authors (including yourself) of the talk or poster to be submitted to the SCAR International Biology Symposium. *

Your answer

Enter the abstract of the talk or poster to be submitted to the SCAR International Biology Symposium. *

Your answer

Provide a brief statement describing why attending the SCAR Biology Symposium will be important to your career. (Maximum 1800 characters, including spaces.) *

Your answer

Indicate which SCAR science groups or activities you a) have participated in, or b) are interested in participating with (see http://www.scar.org/science). (Maximum 600 characters, including spaces.)

Your answer

"NSF international travel grants may not be supplemented by funds from any other NSF grant or fellowship." This means the rest of your expenses cannot be charged to any other NSF award (i.e., to you, to your advisor, etc.), instead funds must come from another agency, from your university, etc. *

I have access to a current grant NSF funds that could support travel to the SCAR Biology Symposium.

I do not have access to a current NSF grant with funds that could support travel to the SCAR Biology Symposium.